Ladder positioner



y 17, 1956 F. w. EBBO 2,755,010

\ LADDER POSITIONER 2 Sheets-Sheet ,1

Filed March 13, 1953 flay W Ebbo CZQM 6 la? Affomex /n ven for v Jul 17, 1956 F. w. EBBO 2,

LADDER POSITIONER Filed March 13, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fiqi 7 W Ebbo By 16. MM

Afforngg United States Patent LADDER POSITIONER Fay W. Ebbo, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Application March 13, 1953, Serial No. 342,188

2 Claims. (Cl. 22860) This invention is intended for use in conjunction with a conventional straight ladder for positioning the upper end thereof at a distance from a supporting wall. A painter standing near the upper end of a ladder usually finds that the presence of the ends of the ladder bearing against the surface he is painting seriously interferes with his operations. Not only is the exact spot covered by the ladder inaccessible, but a considerable area around and below it is surrounded with insufficient clearance for him to perform his work. The unit provided by the present invention will support the upper end of the ladder at a desired distance away from the wall so as of give adequate freedom of arm movement between the ladder and the wall surface. The area covered by the bearing portion of the device is so small that paint can be applied to it as a touch-up operation on movement of the ladder to a succeeding station.

Work performed on the roof of a house, particularly around the area adjacent the eaves, presents a rather difficult problem where an eavestrough installation is present. The trough is usually formed of relatively lightgauge sheet metal, and one hesitates to lean a ladder against it for fear of crushing the cross section of the trough. Yet, there is usually no other way for a workman to obtain access to the roof without considerable inconvenience. Through the use of a device embodying the present invention, the ladder may be supported at such a point that the upper end of it is disposed approximately opposite the eavestrough, with the load supportnig the ladder actually being carried by the wall of the house rather than by the eavestrough.

An important characteristic of the present invention is its formation in such a manner that it can be easily attached and detached from a ladder without the application of an elaborate fastening system. The preferred form of the present invention involves a length of bent steel rod, with the resilience of the rod being utilized to hold the unit in engagement with the ladder. The unit itself may be described as essentially including a bearing portion which rests against the wall, and a pair of 0pposite legs extending between the bearing portion and the ladder. The legs are each provided with ladder-engaging sections, and these are preferably adapted not only to transfer the bearing force of the Wall over to the end of the ladder but also to prevent relative rotation of thedevice with respect tothe ladder. This feature eliminates the danger of theunit slipping and permitting the upper end of the ladder to fall over against the supporting wall.

One modification of the ladder-engaging portion of the device is adapted to grasp one of the rails at spaced points on one side of the ladder. A rung is also engaged between these spaced points, the engagement with the rung being on the opposite side of the ladder from the spaced points on the rail. A moments consideration of this arrangement will indicate that engagement of the device in this fashion will transfer bearing forces from the wall and also prevent the rotation of the device relative to the ladder. This type of engaging portion may be disposed on one of the legs, with the other leg bearing against the op- V 2,755,010 Patented July 17, 1956 posite rail with suificient force (contributed by the resilience of the legs) to maintain the solid engagement of the connection opposite from it.

Another modification of the present invention obtains the stability of the unit through engaging the rail or rails at opposite points on the opposite sides of the ladder, and preferably engaging a rung also toposition the unit along the length of the ladder. With the rail securely grasped on opposite sides, it follows that rotation of the unit with respectto the ladder is prevented, or at least limited to an established degree of freedom of movement. This type of engaging portion can conveniently be provided at the ends of both legs, and the unit may be installed on the ladder by deflecting the legs toward each other a sufi'icient amount to permit insertion between the rails. The resilience of the legs then causes expansion of the ends of the device into engagement upon the release of the deflecting forces.

The several features of the present invention will be analysed through a discussion of the particular embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In these drawings,

Figure 1 presents a view in elevation showing a conventional straight ladder leaning against a house with its upper end supported at a distance from the wall by a device embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view showing the first step in installation of one modification of the present invention.

Figure 3 shows a succeeding step in installation of the device illustrated in Figure 2.

Figure 4 shows the final assembled position of the device shown in Figures 2 and 3.

Figure 5 shows a perspective view of the device installed according to the steps shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4.

Figure 6 presents a perspective view of a modified form of the present invention fully installed on a ladder.

Figure 7 illustrates the first step in the installation of a device of the type shown in Figure 6.

Figure 8 illustrates a succeeding step of the installation of the device shown in Figure 6.

Figure 9 shows a further succeeding step prior to the arrival of the unit in the assembled position shown in Figure 6.

Referring to Figure 1, a conventional straight ladder 10 is shown adjacent a wall 11 of a house. A positioning unit 12 supports the upper end 13 of the ladder at such a distance away from the wall 11 as to permit work to be done on the wall without interference from the ladder. The cave 14 of the house is also made accessible to the user of the ladder without requiring that the ladder be leaning against the cave.

Referring to Figure 5, the ladder 10 is composed of the rails 15 and 16 and a series of rungs, two of which are indicated at 17 and 18 in Figure 5. The supporting unit 12 mounted on the upper end of the ladder 10 includes a bearing portion 19 which rests against the house, and the opposite legs 20 and 21. Preferably, the unit 12 is formed of bent steel rod, and the proportions of the device are such that a considerable amount of resilience exists permitting relative'defiection of the legs 20 and 21 with respect to each other. The outer end of the leg 21 is formed into a rail-engaging portion including the transverse section 22, the segment of the loop 23, and a second transverse portion 24. The two transverse portions 22 and 24 engage the rail 16 at spaced points on one side of the ladder, and the loop segment 23 engages the rung 17 on the opposite side of the ladder from the spaced points. When engaged, it will be noted that the leg 21 is not only stabilized in bearing (these forces being transmitted to the rung 17), but also against relative rotation with respect to the rail 16.

The opposite leg 20 is also provided with an engaging portion, but this section of the device need not necessarily stabilize the unit against rotation. It is preferable that the engaging portion on the leg absorb some of the bearing load, but this is not a vital factor. The primary importance of the engaging portion of the leg 2% is to maintain the secure engagement of the transverse portions 22 and 24 and the loop segment 23. A transverse portion on the leg 20 joins a loop segment 26 adapted to reach around the rung 17 and position the upper end of the leg 20 in a direction parallel to the ladder. This arrangement also permits the leg 20 to talte a share of the bearing force required to support the ladder. The leg 20, however, is not stabilized against rotation with respect to the ladder, except as it is positioncd by the effect of the leg 21.

The installation of the positioning unit 12 is performed according to the sequence illustrated in Figures 2, 3, and 4. Figure 2 presents the first step in the sequence, and involves the insertion of the engaging portion of the leg 21 so that the loop 23 is assembled to the rung 17. This movement is done with the unit in approximately coplanar relationship with the ladder. The unit is then moved to the right with respect to the ladder as shown in Figure 2 a sufiicient amount so that the transverse portion 22 is positioned opposite the rail 16, and the leg 21 and the loop 23 fall on opposite sides of the rail. On arrival at this position, and with the leg 21 at enough of an angle to the rail 16 so that the transverse portion 24 clears the inside of the rail, the device can be rotated in a counterclockwise direction as shown in Figure 1 to the point where the transverse portion 24 can be urged into engagement with the rail. The formation of the loop segment 26 on the leg 20 is preferably such that it is not engageable with the rung 17 except on a considerable amount of deflection of the leg 20 tending to decrease the angle between the leg 20 and the transverse portion 25. With this arrangement, a firm and solid engagement takes place which gives a feeling of solidity and security to the user of the ladder. It will be noted that the length of the transverse portion 25 is considerably greater than the width of the rail 15, the primary purpose of this relationship being to give a more adequate basis for the deflection mentioned above. When assembled in the condition shown in Figure 5, the natural resilience of the unit 12 will maintain its secure engagement with the ladder 10 through any type of forces normally applied to it.

In Figurcs 6 through 9, a modified form of the present invention is illustrated involving a different formation of the engaging portions at the ends of the legs. This modification of the invention includes a bearing portion 27 and the opposite legs 28 and 29. These portions of the device are similar, respectively, to the base portion 19 and the legs 20 and 21 of the previously-discussed em:

bodiments. At the ends of both of the legs 28 and 29, an engaging portion is formed which includes the U- sections 30 and 31, the loop segment portions 32 and 33, respectively, and the sections 34 and 35 disposed parallel to the back of the U-sections 30 and 31, and spaced a sufiicient amount therefrom to accommodate the rung 36 therebetween. To install this device, one of the engaging portions may be applied to the rung 36 in the fashion shown in Figure 7. The legs 28 and 29 may then be defiected toward each other a sufficient amount so that the ends of both the legs 28 and 29 can be admitted between the rails 37 and 38. This procedure is in process in Figure 8. After the insertion of the leg 28 and its engaging portion inside the rail 37, it is thrust through the plane of the ladder a sufficient amount so that the rung 36 may be positioned between the U-shaped section 31 and the portion 35. The leg 28 is then moved in the opposite direction (upwardly as shown in Figure 9) so that the rail 37 is in position to be received within the U-shaped section 31. The natural resilience of the unit will force the two engaging portions outwardly, and maintain their solid connection with the rails 37 and 38. It is preferable, however, that the sides of the U'shaped sections 30 and 31 be formed somewhat closed (i. e., closer together at the ends of the U configuration than at the back) to create the tendency to grip the rails more firmly. The engagement of the sides of the U-shaped sections 39 and 31 will prevent the rotation of the unit with respect to the ladder, and will also transfer the bearing forces from the supporting wall over to the ladder.

The particular embodiments of the present invention which have been illustrated and discussed herein are for illustrative purposes only and are not to be considered as a limitation upon the scope of the appended claims. In these claims, it is my intent to claim the entire invention disclosed herein, except as I am limited by the prior art.

I claim:

1. A support for positioning the upper end of a ladder at a distance from a wall, said ladder having rungs and rails, comprising: spaced opposite resilient leg means connected adjacent one end thereof; first ladder-engaging means, said first ladder-engaging means being connected to one of said leg means and including means for engaging a rail at spaced points along said ladder on one side thereof and a rung adjacent said spaced points, said rung being engaged on the opposite side of said ladder from said spaced points by a loop portion of said first ladderengaging means extending between said spaced points to lock said leg means in position against movement with respect to said ladder; and second engaging means, said second engaging means being connected to the other of said leg means and adapted to engage a rung and also the opposite rail of said ladder from that engaged by said first engaging means, said engaging means being engageable with said ladder only on deflection of one of said leg means with respect to the other.

2. A support for positioning the upper end of a ladder at a distance from a wall, said ladder having rung means and rail means, comprising: spaced opposite resilient leg means connected adjacent one end thereof; and ladderengaging means on said leg means for stabilizing said support, said engaging means including a loop portion engageable with said rung means to limit movement of said support in either direction along said ladder, parts of said loop portion being formed outwardly to engage said rail means on opposite sides thereof, said engaging means being engageable with said rung means and said rail means only on deflection of one of said leg means with respect to the other.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 802,861 Hetherington Oct. 24, 1905 1,096,903 Graham May 19, 1914 1,447,092 Larson Feb. 27, 1923 

